THANKSGIVING FOOTBALL: Southeastern, West Bridgewater set to clash

Southeastern and WB are set to square off in their first Thanksgiving football game set for 10 a.m. in Easton.

John O'Callaghan The Enterprise JOCallaghan_ENT

EASTON – There is a new tradition about to take place.

West Bridgewater and Southeastern will square off in their first Thanksgiving football game against each other on Thursday at Southeastern at 10 a.m.

The two schools met with Mayflower League officials before the season and everyone came to a determination that this would be the best course of action.

“Every few years, the league gets together to realign things,” Southeastern athletic director/football coach Dan Tripp said. “(We have usually played) West Bridgewater the first game of year, it was well-attended.”

Previously, Southeastern played South Shore Vocational and West Bridgewater went up against Avon/Holbrook. Those two schools will now play each other on Thanksgiving.

West Bridgewater (5-4) is in the Comprehensive Division of the Mayflower League, along with Avon/Holbrook. With the implementation of this new Thanksgiving game, it eliminates the fact that the two schools would have to play each other twice in one season.

“Geographically it works out well,” Tripp said. “Nobody is playing each other twice now.”

Barrett’s Alehouse, which is just about equidistant between the two high schools, will serve as a sponsor for the contest.

“The process was very simple: They’re a yearly rival two miles down the road,” West Bridgewater athletic director Steven Barrett said. “It worked out well for everyone.”

This game also will add a new sense of rivalry, considering the proximity of the schools and the fact that students who reside in West Bridgewater also attend Southeastern.

“We have kids from West Bridgewater that attend Southeastern,” Barrett said. “It’s more of a rivalry than when we played Holbrook. It allows for more fan participation.”

Said Tripp: “I think it can be a (staple). I’ve been here nine years now, it’s been a pretty good game. I think (West Bridgewater) has the edge by a game or two. It’s not like the kids weren’t excited before, but the fact that it’s down the road, it adds a little (something to it).”

In terms of the actual game, Tripp noted that there is a bit of a difference playing a team during the season opener as compared to Thanksgiving, when players have had an entire season to get into a groove.

“It gives us a little extra time to try and get ready for them. I know they throw a ton of formations (out on the field),” Tripp said. “Certainly playing a strong, well-coached team like them, I’d much rather play them with my Thanksgiving Day team than my first-week team. ... I’m more confident in the product we’re going to put on the field on Thursday as opposed to what we opened up the season with.”

Tripp knows that his team has a tough task to trying to slow down a West Bridgewater squad led by longtime head coach Bill Panos.

“Those kids are very well-disciplined and they do what they do and they do it very well,” Tripp said. “All the fundamental things, blocking, tackling, they’re not going to make a bunch of mistakes.”

Southeastern (5-5) running back/cornerback Kyle Burns of Brockton said it is vital to end his senior year with a win.

“It’s important for all the seniors because it’s a new era for us because it’s a new Thanksgiving matchup vs. West Bridgewater this year,” Burns said. “If we get the win, it will complete a winning season.”

Burns also made a point to mention the intense crowd that will be in attendance.

“We’ve got to be ready for the crowd because every time we play West Bridgewater it’s always a big crowd,” Burns said. “West Bridgewater usually brings its huge fan section, the games are packed. I can only imagine what it’s going to be like come Thanksgiving with all the families coming. It’s going to be a good game.”

The Hawks ended the regular season in a three-way tie with Diman and Bristol-Plymouth for first place in the Mayflower League Vocational Large Division.

“Not everybody gets to say they had a winning season,” Tripp said. “We have that possibility, not that it’s the best thing in the world, but with a win on Thanksgiving we could have just that, a winning season and a piece of our league championship. And all things considered, no matter what the record is, that’s a pretty good season.”

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